ICAO unveils online air operator database

   The International Civil Aviation Organization will launch the initial phase of an online registry for air operator certificates (AOC) on Dec. 1, a further step in the movement toward taking paper out of the air cargo supply chain.
   The online database will include information currently only used in paper form, representing significant cost and environmental benefits, according to an ICAO press release. Airline inspectors will also be able to access the data more quickly.
   The 11 launch states for the electronic database include Canada, Australia, the UAE, Singapore and South Africa. All of ICAO’s 191 member states will be able to use the new technology starting Jan. 1.
   This database has been in development for two years, with the help of the Civil Aviation University of China, which made the software, and the International Air Transport Association. IATA has been crusading against paper in the air cargo supply chain for a decade. This year, instead of taking its previous all-at-once approach to e-freight, the organization decided to concentrate on electrifying one document at a time, starting with the air waybill.
   “The AOC registry is an important initiative — it not only reduces airline administrative burdens, but improves the management and accessibility of up-to-date AOC and operational specifications,” IATA’s Guenther Matschnigg said in a statement. “Prompt implementation of the AOC registry is a significant step in streamlining and harmonizing foreign operator requirements, ultimately enhancing safety and operational efficiency.”